Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[paul_e]

Guzan (Given)
Hutton (Bacuna) Senderos (Okore) Vlaar (Clark) Cissokho (Richardson)
Westwood (KEA) Sanchez (Gardner) Delph (Cole)
Weimann (Gabby) Benteke (Kozak) N'Zogbia (Grealish)

That's 22, 23 with Bent who's covering until the big men are back, that really should be enough to run with, if you work on 3 injured on average at any one time you've still got a full complement of 18 plus two spare, even if you had a raft of say 6 injured you may have to stick one kid on the bench to make up 7 subs so it would hardly be horrific.  That means Herd, Lowton, Bennett, Stevens, Robinson and Baker can leave/be loaned out for me.  If we get 2 more in as rumoured, KEA and Bent can probably also be moved on.

We've had a point in the season where 10 first team squad players have been injured at the same time in each of the last 4 seasons.

[mr underhill]

I think we're stuck with Bent . If he were going to get a  transfer  somewhere else it would have happened by now. He blew his chance with a dreadful spell at Fulham.  A long and expensive wind down to the end of his contract beckons but I hope I'm wrong. His 65k a week would be very handy elsewhere.

[bobdylan]

Guzan (Given)
Hutton (Bacuna) Senderos (Okore) Vlaar (Clark) Cissokho (Richardson)
Westwood (KEA) Sanchez (Gardner) Delph (Cole)
Weimann (Gabby) Benteke (Kozak) N'Zogbia (Grealish)

That's 22, 23 with Bent who's covering until the big men are back, that really should be enough to run with, if you work on 3 injured on average at any one time you've still got a full complement of 18 plus two spare, even if you had a raft of say 6 injured you may have to stick one kid on the bench to make up 7 subs so it would hardly be horrific.  That means Herd, Lowton, Bennett, Stevens, Robinson and Baker can leave/be loaned out for me.  If we get 2 more in as rumoured, KEA and Bent can probably also be moved on.

We've had a point in the season where 10 first team squad players have been injured at the same time in each of the last 4 seasons.

What do you do then, tell Baker and Bennett et al you're not playing this season until we get 10 injuries, just let them let train every day and not get matches, I'd rather see them get games elsewhere and take the risk?  I think for a Premier League club not in Europe 22/23 players plus kids is a sensible squad size.

[paul_e]

What do you do then, tell Baker and Bennett et al you're not playing this season until we get 10 injuries, just let them let train every day and not get matches, I'd rather see them get games elsewhere and take the risk?  I think for a Premier League club not in Europe 22/23 players plus kids is a sensible squad size.

I just think why bother reducing the squad to 22/23 if we don't have to, precedence shows that we might well need the squad players over the season.  This is the first time for a while that I've looked at the squad and seen a decent backup in every position and then spares on top, I think we should go with that for a year.

Guzan (Given)
Hutton (Bacuna) Senderos (Okore) Vlaar (Clark) Cissokho (Richardson)
Westwood (KEA) Sanchez (Gardner) Delph (Cole)
Weimann (Gabby) Benteke (Kozak) N'Zogbia (Grealish)

I think we'll see Richardson and Bacuna used on midfield more often than at fullback so I'd want to keep 1 of Bennett, Stevens or Lowton just in case.  Alternatively I'd keep 1 from either side and let KEA go instead, I can't see him ever bin th eplayer we hoped, the league is just too quick for him.

You've already added Bent, which is 24 but we can discount Grealish (he doesn't need to be named as a squad member so why bother) to get to 23.

I think we'll keep Baker in the squad after 2 years running of having one central defender miss the entire season and another miss a couple of months.  That leaves 1 spot which should be for a wide forward who can create and score and has the pace to worry teams.

I agree with Herd going out and I'd love to see Robinson on loan for a few months.

[MoetVillan]

Baker has a chance to learn his craft with some solid centre backs, and taking the pressure off him playing every game could/should help him.  I hope so, I like his attitude.

[cheltenhamlion]

There is nothing wrong with Baker's attitude, it is his ability that is the issue. His positioning is poor and he hasn't enough pace to dig himself out of being out of position.

[garyshawsknee]

Hate to write a young player off, but I just don't think Baker will be good enough for this level. With Clark there is a football brain to work with, think he has suffered from a lack of decent coaching and playing in a team that has lost too many in games.

[PaulWinch again]

Baker's attitude is fine and good luck to him, but he's never shown any ability to learn from his errors or improve his game. I think he is pretty much as good as he's going to be and that's not good enough for us.

[villadelph]

Hate to write a young player off, but I just don't think Baker will be good enough for this level. With Clark there is a football brain to work with, think he has suffered from a lack of decent coaching and playing in a team that has lost too many in games.

Clark is diabolical. He is a PK, red-card and mental lapse liability every time he is out there. In fairness both Baker and Clark should probably move on to competitive club in the Championship. Neither can be considered Premier League standard.

I hate having to clench my ass cheeks every time either one of them are on the ball or tracking back. Five years ago I thought both were sure things, but unfortunately that's just not the case.

[Clampy]

With Bennett and Luna now both gone, i wonder if we will be seeing John Arne Riise in the next few days.

[ozzjim]

Surely Clark and Richardson and Stevens are enough backup to Cissokho

[Clampy]

Surely Clark and Richardson and Stevens are enough backup to Cissokho

Stevens is the only out and out left back out of all of them though. I don't know, maybe you're right but we brought in Bertrand last season when we already had Luna, Bennett, Stevens and Clark.

[tsvet]

Heard it through the grapevine... We have just missed on De Guzman. Expect Tom Cleverly.

[brontebilly]

Surely Clark and Richardson and Stevens are enough backup to Cissokho

Stevens is the only out and out left back out of all of them though. I don't know, maybe you're right but we brought in Bertrand last season when we already had Luna, Bennett, Stevens and Clark.

Bennett and Stevens are nowhere near good enough for the top division. Brighton is a good move for Bennett but unless he starts taking the gym seriously then that is the highest level he will ever succeed at. No idea what Lambert saw in him. Stevens really isnt up to even championship level I suspect.

If we are saying Clark and Baker arent up to it because of poor coaching what does that say about our academy?

Baker gives his all but hasnt improved and isnt likely to either. The game has long moved on from big lumps at centre half that kick everything that moves. We wont get away with a player of Baker's limitations in the top division.

Clark to be honest has had his chance too. He hasnt the ability to read the game so is last ditch everything. For a defender with no recovery pace that is a critical flaw. Not sure if Senderos is much of an improvement on that but Clark for the sake of his career needs regular football now.

[Damo70]

I would prefer to keep Lowton as cover rather than let him out on loan. Same with Clark.